For most people, loving The Lord of the Rings means watching the expanded editions every few years and perhaps owning the books. For Stephen Colbert, it had a rather complex meaning.
Throughout his career, Colbert has made his obsession with Tolkien one of the most well-documented fan relationships in television history, first on “The Colbert Report” and then on “The Late Show.” He discussed Elvish linguistics on air, beat the series’ Oscar-winning screenwriter in a trivia contest, and directed a Middle-earth short film starring the original cast. Peter Jackson, who had met several Tolkien fans from his time, declared Tolkien to be the biggest fan he had ever met. One thing he hasn’t done yet is write a feature film script.
But regardless, his lifelong dedication has led Colbert to accomplishments that most fans could only dream of. Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have confirmed that Colbert will co-write The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past with screenwriter Philippa Bowen and Colbert’s son Peter McGee, and that Jackson will produce. Based on the sixth chapter of The Lord of the Rings that Jackson never adapted, the film is set 14 years after Frodo’s death and follows Sam, Merry and Pippin as they retrace their first steps on their journey, while Sam’s daughter Elanor uncovers a secret that nearly cost them everything.
It’s one of the most logical jobs for a superfan in Hollywood history. Here are seven moments that explain exactly why.
LOTR director Peter Jackson declares Colbert the biggest Tolkien nerd he’s ever met
Image credit: ©New Line Cinema/Courtesy of Everett Collection
When Colbert visited the New Zealand set of The Hobbit, Jackson organized a trivia showdown between the guest and Tolkien authority Philippa Bowen, co-writer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Academy Award-winning director of The Return of the King. Colbert won.
“I’ve never met a more Tolkien geek in my life. His encyclopedic knowledge of Tolkien is amazing, and in some ways indicative of an underprivileged childhood,” Jackson told Entertainment Weekly in 2012. By Colbert’s own account, his “disadvantaged childhood” included abandoning school, quitting sports, and spending his teenage years immersed in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as well as all of Tolkien’s works. writing. The man who beat the series’ screenwriter at his own game is now collaborating with her to write her next film.
Colbert made a cameo appearance in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Image credit: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Colbert appeared in the 2013 sequel as a spy in Laketown, and was in frame in a scene where Byrd’s son warns the men who are watching the house. His wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert and sons Peter and John also accompanied him and made a cameo appearance in the scene.
Colbert teased his appearance on Late Show with David Letterman as a game of Find Wally, but declined to say where in the movie you’ll find Colbert. Jackson later revealed his cameo appearance in a video posted to The Late Show’s social channels.
Colbert and Liv Tyler reenact scenes from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ in Elvish
Image credits: Credit: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
When Tyler appeared on “The Late Show” in 2018 to promote her Hulu series “Harlots,” she came bearing a gift. Hidden behind Colbert’s desk was Arwen’s sword Hadafang, a prop blade given to her by Jackson in the original film.
Colbert greeted her on the air with her elf’s full name, “Arwen Undomiel, Evening Star of her people,” asked if he would “indulge in his fantasies,” and quickly assured viewers that they were “safe for television.” She complied, and with Colbert crouching in his lap as Frodo, Tyler raised his blade and delivered the line, “If you want him, come and get him,” 20 years after filming, first in English and then in Elvish from memory. I heard Colbert scream.
Watch the full interview below.
Colbert reunites ‘Lord of the Rings’ cast to celebrate 20th anniversary of ‘The Fellowship’ with rap tribute
Image credit: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert YouTube
In December 2021, just days away from The Fellowship of the Ring’s 20th anniversary, and with no formal celebration planned, Colbert took matters into his own hands.
“Harry Potter will be producing a huge 20th anniversary special that will reunite the entire cast,” he told the audience. “I think Peter Jackson’s outstanding achievements deserve similar treatment.”
Next up was a full-length rap video, “#1 Trilly,” featuring Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen, Method Man, and Killer Mike, shot in ’90s-inspired outfits and featuring Colbert wearing a replica of Frodo’s mithril shirt. Weaving has also performed poetry in Elvish. Colbert said this year also marks the 20th anniversary of his “not shutting up about The Lord of the Rings.”
Watch the performance below.
Colbert hosts ‘The Hobbit’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con in formal wear
Image credit: Getty Images
Chris Hardwick was originally scheduled to moderate the “The Hobbit” panel at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. When Colbert showed up, he gladly took over the task.
Colbert, who appeared as a Lake Town spy in a cameo in The Desolation of Smaug, appeared alongside his similarly costumed son and gave one of the most talked-about fan speeches in Comic-Con history, saying, “If I could go back in time and show this to my 13-year-old self,” Colbert said. He told the audience that he was horrified when he first heard that Jackson would adapt the trilogy into a film. “I was worried that somehow he would take away my treasure, my treasured horde of Middle-earth stories. It was a very possessive, obsessive, very dragon-like feeling.”
As fear turns to hope, he says that what he really hopes is that his “head full of facts from Fëanor to Faramir” will eventually have some social value, that someone will be able to ask him a question about Tolkien and say, “Yes, yes, I do.” The crowd went wild.
Colbert wrote, directed, and starred in the Middle-earth short film along with the original cast.
Image credit: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert YouTube
In 2019, Colbert wrote, directed, and starred in Darylgorn, an eight-minute short film about Aragorn’s lesser-known brother and a mysterious and overlooked hero of Middle-earth. This movie was produced as part of the Late Show segment. Jackson, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, and Elijah Wood all starred.
The film received nearly 1 million views on YouTube in its first month. It remains one of the most remarkable things fans have ever accomplished. Fans love you so much that we’re bringing together the director and three stars of one of the most beloved film trilogies in history to star in an original Middle-earth comedy. In retrospect, this was also a proof of concept.
Watch “Darryl Gone” on the Late Show here:
Colbert used Tolkien’s expertise to intervene in Turkish criminal cases
Image credit: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert YouTube
In 2015, Turkish doctor Bilgin Şifci lost his job and faced up to two years in prison for posting a meme comparing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Gollum (under Turkish law, insulting the head of state is punishable). His defense argued that the photo actually depicted a gentler, more heroic alter ego of the character Smeagol.
The court called in a Tolkien expert. Colbert volunteered to go on the air dressed as Gregory Peck from “A Tale of Alabama,” presenting the case he had carefully researched for the defense. “As a teenager, reading not only The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but all of Tolkien’s works,” he told the audience, “I knew I was ready for something important.”
Mr. Jackson, Mr. Walsh, and Mr. Boyen then joined the defense and issued a joint statement. Mr. Schifci was ultimately acquitted.
Watch the clip below.
